Tags: okayama

Dogeza, the Japanese bowing to the floor has many meanings, but today the best known usage is when someone acts extremely apologetic. However, in the past it was used with a different meaning, as a manner to politely greet someone, for example at a tea ceremony.

Photographed here is a life-size samurai automaton that startled me by performing a dogeza when I entered the Orii Samurai Residence in Takahashi, Okayama.